U.S. patent number 6,781,575 [Application Number 09/668,123] was granted by the patent office on 2004-08-24 for method and apparatus for organizing addressing elements.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Handspring, Inc.. Invention is credited to Robert Haitani, Jeffrey Hawkins, Art Lamb.
United States Patent |
6,781,575 |
Hawkins , et al. |
August 24, 2004 |
Method and apparatus for organizing addressing elements
Abstract
A method and apparatus for organizing and accessing addressing
elements is herein disclosed. In many situations in use of a
handheld computer, for example, it is desirable to obtain quick and
easy access to addressable resources from among a list of such
resources. In the case of a handheld computer including a
telephone, for example, a user may wish to quickly and easily dial
certain telephone numbers through use of a "speed dialing" system.
An exemplary speed dialing system herein described includes a
plurality of speed dial pages which can be selected by the user for
display on a touch sensitive screen. Each speed dial page has an
arrangement of speed dial buttons, and each speed dial button can
be assigned a label, that is displayed on or adjacent the button,
and a telephone number that is dialed when the button is pressed
using the touch sensitive screen. The assignment of labels and
telephone numbers can be arranged among the buttons by the user to
aid the user in recalling where (e.g. which page and which button
location) particular telephone numbers are and so enable quick and
easy access by the user. These principles are similarly applicable
to Internet bookmarks, for example, and software application
shortcuts.
Inventors: |
Hawkins; Jeffrey (Redwood City,
CA), Haitani; Robert (San Jose, CA), Lamb; Art
(Tiburon, CA) |
Assignee: |
Handspring, Inc. (Mountain
View, CA)
|
Family
ID: |
32869865 |
Appl.
No.: |
09/668,123 |
Filed: |
September 21, 2000 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
345/173; 345/169;
455/566; 715/810 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04M
1/27475 (20200101); H04M 1/7243 (20210101) |
Current International
Class: |
G09G
5/00 (20060101); G09G 005/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;379/102
;345/173,174,175,176,177,178,179,168,169,788,799,800,810,835,841,864
;455/403,566 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Wu; Xiao
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Johansen; Day Stattler Johansen
& Adeli LLP
Claims
We claim:
1. A method for enabling user-configurable access to actionable
addresses in a computer system, said computer system having a
screen for displaying iconographic data and text, said computer
system also having a user input device enabling a user to interact
with the computer system using components displayed on the screen,
the method comprising: displaying a first of a plurality of action
pages on the screen, each action page having a plurality of
activatable elements in a pre-defined layout comprising a plurality
of editable positions on said screen, each activatable element may
be assigned correspondence with a user defined label displayed with
the activatable element and a user defined actionable address;
displaying action page icons associated with other action pages in
said plurality of action pages on the screen of the first action
page, said action page icons illustrating a miniaturized view of
said activatable elements in said pre-defined layout of editable
positions on an associated action page, displaying said associated
action page in response to a user input through said user input
device selecting one of said action page icons; and in response to
moving of a selected one of said activatable elements on said first
action page to a selected action page icon by a user through said
user input device, removing the selected activatable element from
said first action page and placing said selected activatable
element into a next available editable position on an action page
associated with said selected action page icon.
2. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the computer system
comprises a handheld computer system with a touch sensitive display
screen that acts as said screen and said user input device.
3. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the assignment of
labels and actionable addresses with activatable elements is user
definable, such that the assignments can, by action of the user
input device, be reassigned between activatable elements on the
same page and between activatable elements on different pages.
4. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein moving of said selected
one of activatable elements on said action page is achieved by a
drag-and-drop operation.
5. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said computer system
includes a telephone.
6. The method as claimed in claim 5 wherein said actionable
addresses comprise telephone numbers, and an activation of the
actionable address comprises dialing the telephone number assigned
to the selected activatable element.
7. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the computer system is
equipped for communication with the Internet, and said actionable
addresses comprise Internet addresses, wherein an activation of the
actionable address comprises accessing the Internet address
assigned to the selected activatable element.
8. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said actionable
addresses correspond to software applications in said computer
system, wherein an activation of the actionable address comprises
initiating execution of the software application assigned to the
selected activatable element.
9. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said pre-defined layout
comprising said plurality of editable positions comprises a
rectangular grid of editable positions.
10. A handheld computer system, said handheld computer system
comprising: a processor, a screen display, a user input device and
communications circuitry all coupled to inter-operate with one
another; a graphical user interface comprising a plurality of
action pages for display on the screen, each action page having a
plurality of activatable screen elements in a pre-defined layout
comprising a plurality of editable positions with each screen
element having a user assignable to a label that is displayed with
the screen element and an actionable address that is executed upon
activation of the screen element using the user input device, and a
plurality of action page icons, each of said action page icons
having an associated action page, said action page icons
illustrating a miniaturized view of said activatable elements in
said pre-defined layout of editable positions on said associated
action page, said handheld computer system displaying an associated
action page in response to a user selection of one of said action
page icons; and a screen element movement handling routine, said
removing a selected screen element from a displayed action page and
placing said selected screen element into a next available editable
position on an action page associated with a selected action page
icon in response to user input moving said selected screen element
on said displayed action page to a selected action page icon with
said user input device.
11. The handheld computer system as claimed in claim 10 wherein
said screen display and said user input device comprise a touch
sensitive screen.
12. The handheld computer system as claimed in claim 11, wherein
each of said activatable screen elements comprises a button display
on the touch sensitive screen that is capable of activation by the
press of a finger of the user so as to execute the corresponding
actionable address.
13. The handheld computer system as claimed in claim 11 wherein the
moving of said selected screen element is achieved by a
drag-and-drop operation.
14. The handheld computer system as claimed in claim 10, wherein
said communications circuitry includes a telephone, and wherein
said actionable addresses comprise telephone numbers, and an
activation of the actionable address comprises dialing the
telephone number assigned to the selected activatable element.
15. The handheld computer system as claimed in claim 10, wherein
the communications circuitry includes circuitry for communication
with the Internet, and said actionable addresses comprise Internet
addresses, wherein an activation of the actionable address
comprises accessing the Internet address assigned to the selected
activatable element.
16. The handheld computer system as claimed in claim 10, wherein
said actionable addresses correspond to software applications in
said computer system, wherein an activation of the actionable
address comprises initiating execution of the software application
assigned to the selected activatable element.
17. The handheld computer system as claimed in claim 10 wherein
said pre-defined layout comprising said plurality of editable
positions comprises a rectangular grid of editable positions.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to the field of computer-human
interfaces. In particular the present invention relates to
organization of addressing elements in a computer facilitating easy
navigation of the addressing elements by a user.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Handheld information organization and communications devices are
becoming increasingly popular, amongst business workers and more
general users. For example, handheld computer systems such as the
3Com line of Palm handheld computers, the Handspring Visor, and the
Microsoft Pocket PC have found widespread acceptance amongst people
for the purpose of organizing their schedules and storing contact
information. Typically, these handheld computer systems contain
Personal Information Management (PIM) applications such as an
address book, a calendar application, a memo application, and a
To-Do list application. Such handheld computer systems are popular
because they are small enough to be carried all the time, allowing
constant easy access to information.
Sales research has indicated that having a simple intuitive method
of accessing the stored data is one of the most important aspects
of a handheld computer system. Due to its simple elegant design and
efficient operation, handheld computer systems based upon the Palm
Operating System (Palm OS) have captured a large proportion of the
handheld computer system market. With the Palm OS, a user can
select and manipulate data using a stylus on a touch sensitive
screen, which permits a information to be accessed in a wide
variety of ways.
One of the most important applications of handheld computer systems
is to hold personal information. For example, an addressbook
application is used to store and access a list of acquaintances and
contact details. To satisfy consumers, it would be desirable to
create new useful interfaces that allow a user to select and
arrange items in such lists quickly and in a simple manner.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A method and apparatus for organizing and accessing addressing
elements is herein disclosed. In many situations in use of a
handheld computer, for example, it is desirable to obtain quick and
easy access to addressable resources from amongst a list of such
resources. In the case of a handheld computer including a
telephone, for example, a user may wish to quickly and easily dial
certain telephone numbers through use of a "speed dialing" system.
An exemplary speed dialing system herein described includes a
plurality of speed dial pages which can be selected by the user for
display on a touch sensitive screen. Each speed dial page has an
arrangement of speed dial buttons, and each speed dial button can
be assigned a label, that is displayed on or adjacent the button,
and a telephone number that is dialed when the button is pressed
using the touch sensitive screen. The assignment of labels and
telephone numbers can be arranged amongst the buttons by the user
to aid the user in recalling where (e.g. which page and which
button location) particular telephone numbers are and so enable
quick and easy access by the user. These principles are similarly
applicable to Internet bookmarks, for example, and software
application shortcuts.
In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a
method for enabling user access to actionable addresses from a
computer system having a screen for displaying iconographic data
and text and a user input device enabling a user to interact with
the computer system using components displayed on the screen. The
method includes displaying a first of a plurality of action pages
on the screen, each action page having a plurality of activatable
elements in a predefined arrangement, each activatable element
having an assigned correspondence with a user defined label
displayed with the activatable element and a user defined
actionable address. Display of the plurality of pages can be
controlled by the user to enable display of a second of said
plurality of action pages on the screen in response to a user input
through said user input device. In response to activation of a
selected one of said activatable elements by a user through said
user input device, the method includes executing the actionable
address assigned to the selected activatable element.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the computer system
comprises a handheld computer system with a touch sensitive screen
that acts as the screen and user input device.
Preferably the assignment of labels and actionable addresses with
activatable elements is user definable, such that the assignments
can, by action of the user input device, be reassigned between
activatable elements on the same page and between activatable
elements on different pages. In the preferred embodiment the
reassignment of activatable elements is achieved by a drag-and-drop
operation.
In one embodiment of the invention the computer system includes a
telephone, and the actionable addresses comprise telephone numbers,
wherein executing the actionable address comprises dialing the
telephone number assigned to the selected activatable element. In
this case the method performs the functions of a "speed dialing"
system for frequently used telephone numbers or the like.
In another embodiment the computer system is equipped for
communication with the Internet, and the actionable addresses
comprise Internet addresses, wherein executing the actionable
address comprises accessing the Internet address assigned to the
selected activatable element. In this case the method acts in the
form of a "bookmark" system for frequently used Internet addresses
or the like.
In another embodiment the actionable addresses correspond to
software applications in the computer system, wherein executing the
actionable address comprises initiating execution of the software
application assigned to the selected activatable element. In this
case the method allows easy user access to frequently used software
applications.
Preferably the activatable elements are in the form of "soft
buttons" or the like, which can be activated by the finger of a
user on the touch sensitive screen. By having a plurality of pages,
selectable by the user, each with a predefined arrangement of
buttons having user assigned labels and addresses associated
therewith, the user may easily recall where, in page and button
position, a desired actionable address (e.g. telephone number,
Internet bookmark, software application shortcut) can be
located.
The present invention also provides a handheld computer system
including a processor, a screen display, a user input device and
communications circuitry all coupled to inter-operate with one
another. The handheld computer system includes a graphical user
interface comprising a plurality of action pages for display on the
screen, each action page having a plurality of activatable screen
elements in a predetermined arrangement with each screen element
being user assignable to a label that is displayed with the screen
element and an actionable address that is executed upon activation
of the screen element using the user input device, wherein the
assignment of labels and actionable addresses to activatable screen
elements can be rearranged by the user.
Preferably the screen display and user input device of the handheld
computer system comprise a touch sensitive screen. In the preferred
embodiment, each of the activatable screen elements comprises a
button display on the touch sensitive screen that is capable of
activation by the press of a finger of the user so as to execute
the corresponding actionable address.
In one form of the invention the communications circuitry includes
a telephone, wherein the actionable addresses comprise telephone
numbers, and executing the actionable address comprises dialing the
telephone number assigned to the selected activatable element.
In another form of the invention the communications circuitry
includes circuitry for communication with the Internet, and the
actionable addresses comprise Internet addresses, wherein executing
the actionable address comprises accessing the Internet address
assigned to the selected activatable element.
In another form of the invention the actionable addresses
correspond to software applications in the computer system, wherein
executing the actionable address comprises initiating execution of
the software application assigned to the selected activatable
element.
In accordance with the present invention there is also provided a
speed dialing system for a mobile telephone device, the mobile
telephone device having a display screen and a user input device,
the speed dialing system including a plurality of speed dial
display pages which are selectable by action of the user input
device for display on the screen, each display page having a
plurality of speed dial active elements in a predetermined
arrangement, wherein each speed dial active element is displayed
together with a user assigned descriptive label, and wherein each
speed dial active element is assigned to a user definable telephone
number that is dialed by the telephone device upon activation of
the corresponding speed dial active element by use of the user
input device.
Other objects, features, and advantages of present invention will
be apparent from the company drawings and from the following
detailed description.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
A preferred embodiment of the present invention is described in
detail hereinafter, by way of example only and with reference to
the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a front isometric view of a handheld computer system on
which an embodiment of the present invention may be
implemented;
FIG. 2 is rear isometric view of the handheld computer system of
FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a front isometric view of the handheld computer system
equipped with a radio telephone communications peripheral
attachment;
FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram of a telephone user interface
software application;
FIG. 5 is a diagram of a display arrangement for a telephone speed
dial user interface;
FIG. 6 is a diagram of a first display arrangement for a telephone
speed dial editing user interface;
FIG. 7 is a diagram of a second display arrangement for a telephone
speed dial editing user interface;
FIG. 8 is a diagram of a third display arrangement for a telephone
speed dial editing user interface;
FIGS. 9A, 9B, 9C and 9D are block diagrams illustrating telephone
speed dial user interface editing procedures; and
FIGS. 10A, 10B and 10C are block diagrams illustrating further
telephone speed dial user interface editing procedures.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
A method and apparatus for organizing addressing elements is herein
disclosed. In the following description, for purposes of
explanation, specific nomenclature is set forth to provide a
thorough understanding of the present invention. However, it will
be apparent to one skilled in the art that these specific details
are not required in order to practice the present invention. For
example, the present invention has been described with reference to
handheld computer systems. However, the same techniques can easily
be applied to other types of devices in which quick and easy access
to addressable elements from amongst a list of such elements is
desirable.
FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate a handheld computer system 100. As shown
in FIG. 1, the front of the handheld computer system includes a
display area 110 and several physical buttons 120. The display area
includes a visual display device, such as a liquid crystal display
or the like, for presenting information to the user. The physical
buttons 120 can be manipulated by the user to input information to
the computer system and make selections of information presented on
the display device. The display device may also be covered with a
digitizer pad which can be utilized by the user to enter
information to the computer system using a stylus (not shown).
In operation, information from the computer system is displayed by
the display device in the display area 110. The user is then able
to employ the stylus to manipulate and interact with the displayed
information by touching the digitizer pad. In one mode of operation
the stylus can be used in the manner of a writing pen to enter
characters and figures by drawing the stylus across the digitizer
pad. In another mode of operation, the stylus and digitizer
function like a computer mouse to operate and manipulate
interactive elements on the display. For example, the computer
system may present a virtual button in a location on the display
that can be activated to perform a function by the user tapping the
stylus on the digitizer pad at the virtual button location. The
stylus can also be used to perform "drag and drop" operations in
the fashion known in the use of a computer mouse. Functions of the
digitizer pad can also be operated by a user's finger, such as
activating a virtual button on the display.
The handheld computer system 100 also includes an expansion
connector slot 130, seen in the rear view of FIG. 2. The expansion
connector slot allows peripheral devices to be connected to the
computer system to interact therewith. Many kinds of peripheral
devices can be connected to the handheld computer system 100
through the expansion connector slot 130 including, for example, a
radio cellular telephone transceiver device.
FIG. 3 is an isometric view of a handheld computer system 100 as
described above, with a cellular radio telephone transceiver device
150 coupled thereto by the expansion connector slot 130. The radio
telephone device 150 comprises a first portion 152 that is fixed to
the body of the handheld computer system and a second portion 154.
The second portion 154 of the radio telephone device is hingedly
coupled to the first portion 152 to allow it to pivot from a closed
position where it covers the display area 110 to an open position
as shown in FIG. 3. When in the open position, a speaker 156 in the
second portion of the radio telephone device 150 can be held
against the ear of the user whilst the user speaks into a
microphone 112 provided in the handheld computer system 110.
The radio telephone device 150 includes circuitry for enabling
communications with a cellular telecommunications network and
processing circuitry that, together with onboard software or
firmware, allows the radio telephone device to interact with the
handheld computer system 100. Various aspects of a handheld
computer system and interconnected cellular radio telephone are
described in co-pending patent application Ser. No. 09/374,095
filed Aug. 12, 1999 and entitled "A Mobile Computer System Designed
for Wireless Communication Expansion". The disclosure of that
co-pending patent application is hereby expressly incorporated
herein by reference.
It will be appreciated that the handheld computer system 100 and
functions of the cellular radio telephone 150 operate principally
under the control of computer software. The handheld computer
system 100 includes a microprocessor and built-in software that
provides applications for the user. The radio telephone peripheral
device 150 may also include a microprocessor, together with
software code and data specifically required for the phone
functions. In the preferred embodiment, a computer software phone
application that provides the user interface functions for the
radio telephone peripheral executes on the handheld computer system
microprocessor, although the software code may be permanently
stored in either the handheld computer or the radio telephone
peripheral. Similarly, data used by the phone application can be
stored in either device, although it is preferred that acquaintance
contact data and the like be stored in the handheld computer system
so that it may be accessible by the user even when the telephone
peripheral is not present.
Amongst mobile radio telephone users it has been found that one of
the most utilized features of the mobile telephone is the "speed
dial" function. A typical mobile telephone has a non-volatile
storage memory for storing the names and corresponding telephone
numbers for a plurality of the user's acquaintances or the like.
The telephone speed dial user interface then allows the user to
place a telephone call to one of the stored telephone numbers
relatively quickly and easily.
Existing mobile telephone speed dial systems can operate in a
variety of ways. One such speed dial system allows the user to
associate a telephone number with a unique one or two digit code.
The user can then dial the number by entering the one or two digit
code, followed by the "SEND" key, for example, to place the speed
dial call. In order for this system to be effective, the user must
memorize the codes associated with the telephone numbers.
Another existing speed dial system allows the user to utilize
letters associated with keys on the telephone keypad to spell out
the name of the person associated with a stored telephone number.
This can be a tedious process since typically three or four letters
are assigned to each button on the telephone keypad, which
necessitates several key presses for each of the letters in the
name spelt.
Another existing mobile telephone speed dial system uses a list of
names associated with speed dial telephone numbers that is
displayed on the telephone screen. In this case designated
telephone keypad buttons allow the user to scroll up and down the
list to select the desired name and thereby dial the associated
telephone number.
An implementation of the present invention provides an alternative
system for arranging and accessing mobile telephone speed dial
records. In particular, and embodiment of the invention is
described hereinbelow in the context of a telephone application and
user interface operating on a handheld computer 100 with attached
cellular radio telephone 150 of the kind shown in FIG. 3 and
referred to above. The system for arranging and accessing
addressing elements in the described embodiment of the invention
provides a speed dial system that enables fast and easy access
location of stored addressing records (e.g. names and associated
telephone numbers) so that a user can quickly and accurately place
a call using a stored telephone number.
The speed dial system of the present embodiment implements a
physical page metaphor, whereby a plurality of"pages" are each used
to represent a sub-set of speed dial records. A speed dial record
can be considered as an addressing element and an associated tag or
label. In this case the addressing element will in most cases be a
simple telephone number, although in this embodiment provision is
made for additional addressing data, as is described hereinbelow.
The tag or label associated with the addressing element in the
speed dial record can be a person's name or other descriptive
title. For example, "John", "Peter Smith", "Home" and "Office" are
the kind of tags or labels that might typically be used in speed
dial addressing records. Thus the speed dial record includes
descriptive data (the tag or label) and addressing data (the
telephone number). The descriptive data is easier for most people
to remember than a string of digits, and is therefore used to
access the corresponding stored telephone numbers.
Each page in the speed dial system is a software construct that
allows single tap dialing access to a subset of the stored speed
dial records. A Speed Dial page in the preferred embodiment
includes a screen display which is presented to the user in the
display area 110 of the handheld computer 100. The Speed Dial page
also includes interactive functionality that allows a user to
manipulate and select data represented in the corresponding screen
display. In this description "pages" are described largely with
reference to the layout of information and the like presented by
the screen display, and the underlying functions performed as a
result of user interaction with interactive elements. However, it
will be appreciated that in fact the functions performed are
carried out by computer software routines, or hardwired
equivalents, executed by the circuitry of the handheld computer or
telephone peripheral, including the generation of the visual screen
displays and interpretation of user interaction with the
touch-screen digitizer. The software that performs the functions is
herein referred to as a Phone App. The Phone App, as mentioned, is
stored in the handheld computer 100 or telephone peripheral 150,
and utilizes user defined data in the form of the speed dial
records which are also stored in the handheld computer or telephone
peripheral.
FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram of the Phone App (400)
indicating the main functions accessible through the user interface
thereof when there are no telephone calls active. The Phone App 400
includes voice-mail and short message service (SMS) checking
systems 440, 450 and a phone preferences function 460 which are not
relevant to the present invention and are therefore not further
discussed herein.
When there are no telephone calls active, the Phone App has three
main views accessible through the user interface: a dial pad view
(410), a call history view (420) and a speed dial view (430). The
dial pad view 410 presents page that looks and operates similarly
to a traditional telephone keypad for manual dialing of telephone
numbers. The call history view 420 presents a scrollable list of
the past 1000 telephone calls made and received, with the ability
to dial a number from the list. The manual dial pad and call
history features are also not directly relevant to the
implementation of the present invention, and are not further
discussed so as to avoid obscuring the invention.
The speed dial view 430 of the Phone App 400 includes five Speed
Dial pages each containing ten one-touch speed dial buttons. From
the speed dial view 430 the speed dial data can be entered and
amended by the user through edit list (432), edit entry (434) and
find number functions (436) which are described in detail
hereinbelow.
FIG. 5 illustrates the visual presentation of an exemplary Speed
Dial page 500 according to the preferred embodiment of the speed
dial system. The Speed Dial page has a title bar (510) at the top
of the screen and a command button area (530) at the bottom of the
screen. The area (520) between the title bar and command buttons on
the Speed Dial page 500 is occupied by ten speed dial screen
buttons 525, arranged in two columns of five buttons per column.
Each of the speed dial screen buttons 525 corresponds to a speed
dial record. The speed dial record tag or label (or a portion
thereof) is displayed on the screen button, and activating
("tapping") the button causes the Phone App to control the handheld
computer and telephone peripheral to dial the telephone number of
the corresponding speed dial record.
Three icons 535 appear at the bottom left command button area of
the Speed Dial page screen 500. These represent buttons that allow
the user to toggle the screen display between the three main Phone
App views (410, 420, 430 in FIG. 4). The user can tap on the icons
directly to move between the main Phone App views. In FIG. 5 the
leftmost of the icons 535, representing the speed dial view, is
shown highlighted by inverted graphic colors.
There are five small, numbered page buttons 540 to the right hand
side of the command button area 530 on the Speed Dial page 500. The
page buttons 540 represent the five pages of speed dial buttons
available. The button corresponding to the current page is
highlighted by inverted graphic colors (in this case the page
illustrated being page number one). Tapping on any of the other
page buttons 540 will effect display of the contents of that page
(and that page button will then become highlighted).
The basic operation of the Phone App from the Speed Dial page 500
in ordinary operation is as follows. Each of the five Speed Dial
pages has ten speed dial soft buttons that are user assignable.
When a speed dial button has been assigned to a speed dial record
by the user, it displays the tag or label of the speed dial record
and tapping on (activating) that button effects automatic dialing
of the corresponding assigned telephone number. Tapping on a speed
dial button with no number assigned (e.g. an empty button) effects
display of an Edit Speed Dial Button page (described below) that
allows the user to generate a speed dial record to be assigned to
that button. To move directly from one of the five Speed Dial pages
to another the user can tap on one of the page buttons 540, or the
physical buttons 120 on the front of the handheld computer 100 can
be used to scroll through the Speed Dial pages.
Tapping on the title bar of the Speed Dial page 500 reveals a pull
down edit menu (not shown in FIG. 5). Selecting the edit menu
effects display of an Edit Speed Dial page (432 in FIG. 4). The lay
out of the Edit Speed Dial page is illustrated at 600 in FIG. 6.
The Edit Speed Dial page 600 provides the primary basis by which
the user can arrange speed dial settings on the Speed Dial pages,
edit speed dial records (434 in FIG. 4) and find telephone numbers
for assignment to the speed dial buttons (436 in FIG. 4).
The Edit Speed Dial page 600 contains a table 610 of ten "slots"
612 arranged in two columns of five, with each slot 612
corresponding to a button 525 on the Speed Dial page 500. There are
notionally five Edit Speed Dial pages 600, one for each of the
Speed Dial pages 500. The slots 612 in the table 610 contain the
text of the tags or labels for the speed dial records assigned to
the corresponding buttons. When in the Edit Speed Dial page view,
one of the slots 612 is always "selected", and the user can change
the selected slot by tapping on the corresponding position of the
table. In the Figures the selected slot is indicated by inverted
graphic colors.
Located below the table 610 is a a set of page button icons 620
that operate in a similar manner to the page buttons 540 and allow
the user to navigate amongst the five Edit Speed Dial pages. The
page button icons 620, however, are larger than the page buttons
540 of FIG. 5 because the page button icons 620 also display an
indication of the speed dial button assignments on each of the
Speed Dial pages. This is achieved by small horizontal lines
arranged in the page button icons 620 representing speed dial
buttons on that page which have speed dial records assigned
thereto. For example, as seen in FIG. 6, the Edit Speed Dial 600
has all slots occupied and thus all corresponding speed dial
buttons assigned, which is reflected in the "Page 1" icon having
ten horizontal lines therein. The "Page 2" icon indicates that the
second speed dial page has two "empty" slots/buttons at the lower
right positions, whilst the other speed dial pages are shown as all
empty. This icon display allows the user to quickly and easily
determine which speed dial pages have empty slots/buttons at a
glance from the Edit Speed Dial page view, which is particularly
useful for editing and rearranging speed dial assignments as will
be described in greater detail in a later section.
The Edit Speed Dial page 600 also contains several command buttons
630 for performing specific functions. These command buttons are
labeled "Done", "New", "Edit" and "Delete" and will be referred to
hereinafter. For example, tapping on the "Done" button returns the
Phone App user interface to display the Speed Dial page view (500).
The "New", "Edit" and "Delete" buttons, when activated, enable
operations to be performed on the speed dial record of the selected
slot.
Tapping on the "Edit" command button from the Edit Speed Dial page
600 effects display of an Edit Entry page, the layout of which is
illustrated at 700 in FIG. 7. The Edit Entry page 700 displays the
data of the speed dial record for the selected slot. In particular,
the Edit Entry page has a "Name" field at 710 for displaying and
editing the speed dial record tag or label, and a "Number" field at
720 for displaying and editing the telephone number for the speed
dial record. The Edit Entry page also has a field labeled "Next
Sequence" at 730 which provides for the user to specify a string of
characters to be sent by the phone after the dialing procedure. For
example, for a particular telephone number corresponding to a PBX
extension, the user may specify a string of characters in the "Next
Sequence" field for the PBX extension number.
In the Edit Entry page, each of the fields 710, 720 and 730 are
editable by the user in conventional manner on the handheld
computer system 100. For example, the fields can be edited using
the stylus on the touch sensitive screen or using a peripheral
keyboard or the like. The Edit Entry page 700 also has several
command buttons 740, labeled "Done", "Cancel" and "Find Number".
Tapping on the "Done" button causes the Phone App to return to the
Edit Speed Dial page, retaining any changes to the speed dial
record made by the user. The "Cancel" button effects return to the
Edit Speed Dial page whilst discarding any speed dial record
changes. The "Find Number" button allows the user to find a
telephone number to insert in the "Number" field 720, as described
below.
The Phone App has some interaction with other software applications
on the handheld computer 100, including an "Address Book"
application that the user may employ to keep a list of
acquaintances and corresponding addresses, telephone numbers and
the like. In use of the Edit Entry page 700, the user may enter a
name in the "Name" field and then tap on the "Find Number" button
to access data from the Address Book application. In particular,
tapping on the "Find Number" button generates a search through the
Address Book data to find names matching the text in the "Name"
field 710. The results of the search are presented to the user in
an Address List page, such as illustrated at 800 in FIG. 8. The
Address List page includes a list 810 of names and corresponding
telephone numbers retrieved from the Address Book data in the
search based on the "Name" field text. The user may then highlight
one of the list entries (820) and tap on a "Select" button 830 to
return to the Edit Entry page 700 with the selected Address Book
data telephone number inserted in the speed dial record "Number"
field 720.
FIGS. 9A, 9B, 9C and 9D are block diagrams illustrating telephone
speed dial user interface editing procedures based on the pages
described hereinabove and illustrated in FIGS. 5, 6, 7 and 8.
An empty button editing procedure 900 is shown in FIG. 9A,
beginning from a Speed Dial page 902. The user taps on an empty
button (904) which effects transition directly to the Edit Entry
page (906). Thereat the user enters data into the "Name", "Number"
and optionally "Next Sequence" fields, using conventional data
entry means, to create a new speed dial record. Tapping on the
"Done" button 907 effects return to the Speed Dial page (906) with
the previously empty button 904 now assigned to the new speed dial
record. The button 904 now displays the "Name" field text,
indicating that it is no longer empty.
A speed dial button insertion procedure is illustrated at 910 in
FIG. 9B, beginning from a Speed Dial page 912. The user taps on the
title bar of the Speed dial page and selects the revealed "Edit"
menu shown at 914. This effects transition of the Phone App to an
Edit Speed Dial page 916 corresponding to the Speed Dial page 912.
The user selects one of the slots (918) on the Edit Speed Dial page
916 at which to insert a new entry, and taps the "New" command
button 920. If the selected slot is currently occupied, an empty
slot on the same page is located (919) and records between the
selected and empty slots are shifted so as to clear the selected
slot. If no slot is available on the current page, then a beep
sounds, indicating that the operation is not possible. If the slot
is successfully cleared (or if the slot was empty to begin with),
the Edit Entry page 922 is then presented, allowing the user to
enter data for a new speed dial record as described previously. The
user taps on the "Done" button 924 at the completion of the speed
dial record creation to effect return to the Edit Speed Dial page
as shown at 926. The selected slot 928 now contains the newly
created speed dial record, and the previously empty slot is now
occupied by one of the shifted existing records. Tapping on the
"Done" button effects return to the corresponding Speed Dial page
(932), where the new speed dial record tag or label is displayed on
the button 934.
A speed dial record editing procedure is illustrated at 940 in FIG.
9C, beginning from a Speed Dial page 942. The user obtains the
corresponding Edit Speed Dial page 946 through selection of the
"Edit" menu 944. In this case the user selects a different Edit
Speed Dial page (950) by tapping on the page icon 948. An occupied
slot 952 on page 950 is selected, and tapping on the "Edit" button
954 effects transition to the Edit Entry page (956) containing the
speed dial record data for the selected slot. The user is then able
to amend the speed dial record data if desired, and tap the "Done"
button to enter the amended record. The effects return to the Edit
Speed Dial page as shown at 960. Tapping on the "Done" button 962
returns the Phone App user interface to the corresponding Speed
Dial page (964).
An alternative new speed dial record creation procedure is
illustrated at 970 in FIG. 9D, beginning at Speed Dial page 972. In
the illustrated procedure the user selects the "Edit" menu 974 to
reach the Edit Speed Dial page 976. As shown, the user then taps a
page icon button 978 to reach a desired Edit Speed Dial page 980,
and thereat selects an empty slot 982. Using the "Edit" or "New"
command button effects transition to the Edit Entry page 984. An
acquaintance name is entered in the "Name" field and the "Find
Number" button 986 activated to locate a telephone number for the
acquaintance in the Address Book data file. A Find Phone Number
dialog 988 appears to confirm the name under which to search, which
leads to an Address List page 990 containing the search results. As
described previously, the user can then select an item from the
list of names and telephone numbers which causes a return to the
Edit Entry page (992) with the relevant telephone number entered in
the "Number" field. The newly created speed dial record is entered
into the selected slot (996) in the Edit Speed Dial page (994) when
the user taps the "Done" button. Finally, tapping the "Done" button
on the Edit Speed Dial page effects return to the Speed Dial page
as seen at 998 with the new speed dial record assignment indicated
on the button 999.
One of the advantages of the speed dial system of the described
embodiment is that the user may use the positioning of the speed
dial buttons to remember which buttons correspond to which
acquaintance. For example, the user may assign the speed dial
numbers to the buttons in order that they may be recalled by button
position, e.g. remembering Rob's mobile telephone number is the
bottom left-hand button. This form of positional memory recall is
something that many people find particularly easy and convenient,
oftentimes easier than recalling even a short numerical code or the
like. Also, the speed dial numbers are arranged in a plurality of
pages, so that each page may be used for speed dial numbers in a
different category, for instance. One page may contain work related
telephone numbers, for example, another page family numbers and
another page telephone numbers for friends. The button icons on the
Speed Dial page representing the different pages of buttons are
also arranged to exploit the user's position recall memory.
Once the speed dial records have been created and entered into the
speed dial system as described above, their assignment to buttons
on the Speed Dial pages can be rearranged by a "drag and drop"
operation using the stylus on the touch sensitive screen of the
handheld computer. In the Edit Speed Dial page a speed dial record
slot is selected by placing the stylus tip thereon, and that record
can be relocated to another slot on the same page by dragging the
stylus tip over to the position of the new slot. If the slot new
slot is empty, the speed dial record is moved to the new slot when
the stylus is lifted. If the new slot is already occupied, however,
a rearrangement of some of the other speed dial records on the page
is also required.
If there is an empty slot immediately below the occupied
destination slot, the record currently occupying the slot is moved
down one position to the empty slot. FIG. 10A illustrates such a
rearrangement operation.
If the slot immediately below the destination slot is occupied, all
the records below the destination slot are shifted down until an
empty slot is found and filled. Note that the empty slot may be the
one just vacated. For purposes of this description, the right hand
column is considered "below" the left-hand column. Rearrangement
operations of this kind are illustrated in FIGS. 10B and 10C.
If the user drags a speed dial record from a slot 612 on the Edit
Speed Dial page 600 to an un-selected page icon 622, that page icon
becomes selected (inverted). Upon lifting the stylus in that
condition, the selected record is placed in the first available
slot on the new page. If there are no empty slots on the new page,
that page's icon does not invert, and a beep sounds when the user
lifts the pen from that location, indicating that the user cannot
drag to that page. If a record is successfully moved to a new page,
the new page is displayed upon pen up.
In order to facilitate user memorization of speed dial buttons by
position, maintaining the position of a speed dial button within a
certain page is considered important. That is why the relative
positioning of speed dial buttons on a page is preserved where
possible, and speed dial records are not permitted to shift across
page boundaries when entries are automatically rearranged during
drag-and-drop operations and insertion of new records.
Whilst the application of the principles of the present invention
have been described hereinabove in connection with a telephone
speed dialing system on a handheld computer, the invention also
finds other applications. For example, the actionable addresses
assigned to the buttons need not be telephone numbers and may be
Internet addresses instead. In that case the invention can be
implemented to provide access to Internet "bookmarks" instead of
telephone numbers. To enable full benefit, then, the computer
should include the capability of communication with the Internet,
which can be achieved through the telephone peripheral, or through
alternative communications circuitry as known in the art. Such
functionality may be accessible through a browser application on
the handheld computer, whereby tapping a "bookmark" button, causes
the browser to display a page or the like from the selected
Internet address. Similarly, the addresses associated with the
"speed dial" buttons may, in another implementation, provide
actionable pointers to software applications accessible by the
computer system. In that case tapping a button may effect launching
of the corresponding software application on the handheld
computer.
The foregoing has described a method and apparatus for organizing
addressing elements. It is contemplated that changes and
modifications may be made by one of ordinary skill in the art, to
the materials and arrangements of elements of the present invention
without departing from the scope of the invention.
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